Chewing Away Anxiety for Back-To-School Jitters: Back to School Bites!
Chewing Away Anxiety for Return-To-School Jitters: Back to School Bites!
As the Christmas season winds down and kids return to school, many children will experience an increase with their anxiety. Going back to school for many children can feel overwhelming and cause children to feel more anxious. This anxiety can cause an increase with their chewing.
When the school bell rings a lot of children will be excited but there are many who will be feeling very uneasy and anxious. For many kids, the transition back to school brings a lot of different emotions. This is usually true for children who struggle with sensory processing differences. Chewelry can be a helpful sensory tool that helps children cope with their anxiety, who are struggling with sensory difficulties. Chewing can be very calming and help a child regulate themselves.
When a child is about to go back to school or they are starting a new school, they may be over-thinking a lot more than usual about their school environment and being on a new schedule or away from their parents. This can be overwhelming for a child and cause them to them to feel anxious.
Some children may seek out different sensory input such as chewing to regulate themselves or help them concentrate. As the back-to-school approaches it is very important for parents to be aware of their child's increased chewing and provide them with the appropriate sensory chew tools.
Chewelry can be really helpful for children who chew on objects that are not food. A couple common items could be their shirt sleeves or their pencils. Chewing is a way for children to self-regulate or could be sensory seeking. Sensory chew necklaces provide a safe alternative to these behaviors because they help a child focus and stay engaged in their daily tasks and activities. These chewable necklaces, bracelets and sensory fidgets can provide sensory input that can help a child feel calm.
As you approach your child's new term, sensory chew jewelry can offer a beneficial sensory solution to help them manage their anxiety and thrive. Introduce their chew tools gradually by giving your child their chewelry at home for a while and then gradually increase their use at school.
Speak to your child's teacher and let them know your child will be using sensory chewelry and the benefits they will have from using it at school. You may need to include your child using chewelry in their IEP.
Teachers should understand that chewing is not a bad behavior but chewing is how a child copes with their sensory processing differences. Supporting a child who is using their sensory chewelry can help create an inclusive environment at school for all students.